Dog's acupuncture for arthritis

Sam is being treated to improve his adoption chances

An ageing dog is getting acupuncture to relieve arthritis in a bid by carers to find him a new home.

Sam, a 10-year-old Collie cross, is being given the treatment so that he can stay with his long-term canine companion Hooch.

Keepers at the National Canine Defence League kennels in Huyton, Merseyside, hope an improvement in Sam's condition will encourage people to adopt the pair.

Bosses at the centre said acupuncture had proved successful in reducing pain for dogs.

Puppy friends

Carers are desperate to have the two dogs housed together but feel Sam's rheumatism and arthritis are discouraging visitors from offering the pair a home.

Manager Richard Moore said: "We could not split Sam and Hooch up because they have been together since they were puppies.

"However, it is difficult to find a home for two older dogs so we want to do everything possible to get them re-housed.

"Sam is troubled by arthritis and rheumatism and we don't want that to stop him finding a new home so we are giving him acupuncture to relieve those symptoms.

"Acupuncture has been proven to relieve pain in dogs and we are confident this will work for Sam," he said.

He said the league would continue to pay for the treatment after Sam is re-housed.